GRIBBLE CARDS 9-UNDER-PAR 135 TO MAINTAIN LEAD AT FOOTJOY BOYS INVITATIONAL

 Hoge pursues the lead after going low at Forest Oaks Country Club

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Cody Gribble of Dallas, once again controls the lead after the second round of the FootJoy Boys Invitational after recording a 9-under-par 135 tournament total. Tom Hoge of Fargo, N.D., trails close behind in second with a two-day total of 8-under-par 136. 

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the sixth-annual FootJoy Boys Invitational is a 72-hole stroke play event being held at Forest Oaks Country Club. The 99-player field features players from 24 states and seven countries. The course is being played at 7,280 yards. Past champions of this event include Seung-Su Han, Brian Harman, Daniel Woltman and Andrew Yun.

            Minutes before a 3-1/2 hour weather delay, Gribble completed his second round with a 2-under-par 70. He recorded three birdies on the front nine and stayed even-par on the back nine, putting well throughout the day. In his first time leading an event this size, Gribble said he feels confident about finishing strong in the final two days.

            “I’ve never had the lead in a major tournament like this before, so I guess I’m in new territory,” Gribble said. “I just have to loosen up tomorrow and hopefully I can get another good round in.”

            Hoge shot 3-under-par 69 to take second place. Also, Philip Chian of Covina, Calif., Jeffrey Kang of Fullerton, Calif., John Popeck of Washington, Pa., and Mu Hu of Shen Zhen, China, make up a crowded third place with 7-under-par 137s.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

Tee times for the third round of the FootJoy Boys Invitational will begin at 7 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at Forest Oaks Country Club. For more information about the FootJoy Boys Invitational, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (336) 674-4137.